ALBANY — Taking a scythe to one of the weedier corners of the state's administrative garden, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed two bills repealing the statutory authorization for 28 local public authorities and 95 urban renewal and industrial development agencies that are "either defunct, were never ultimately established by local law, or are no longer needed to carry out the public function for which they were formed," according to the governor's release.

In the greater Capital Region, they include urban renewal agencies in Troy, Bethlehem, Watervliet, Rensselaer, Cohoes, Guilderland, Colonie and Canajoharie as well as industrial development agencies in East Greenbush, Watervliet, Altamont and Schodack.

All are varieties of municipal entities established to promote development or services in their communities, whether through issuing bonds, awarding tax exemptions, transmitting state and federal funds, or other strategies.

The affected agencies and authorities, the administration said, have no outstanding debt or other obligations. The law transfers the eliminated entities' "books, records and rights to the municipality where each is located."

Both laws take effect in 60 days.

"Since taking office, my administration has worked to make government more efficient and accountable to taxpayers, including doing more with less and finding ways to reduce the costs facing localities," Cuomo said in a statement. "Given that these authorities and agencies no longer serve the public interest, it only makes sense to do away with them for good."

The state Authorities Budget Office, a relatively young watchdog charged with overseeing such entities, applauded the bill signing as "a significant step forward in reforming the vast and archaic web of public authorities in New York."

The ABO, which initially identified more than 160 authorities that were either defunct or lacked basic structures such as a board of directors, said it would propose the elimination of more in 2013.